Analysis on Trial

Abstract

This paper describes work carried out in order to assess whether the approach taken to the analysis of qualitative data impacts upon the findings and their consequent interpretation. Three different approaches were used to analyse the same dataset - a Holistic and Interpretive approach, a Cut and Paste approach and Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS). We discuss the differences between the approaches themselves, their output, the relative costs of adopting the three different approaches and the implications of the work.